Combined spotlight and hinge structure



June 17, 1930. R. J. BURTON COMBINED SPOTLIGHT AND HINGE STRUCTURE Filed March 21. 1928 mvEHTbR Tam ATTO R N EYS Patented June 11, 1930 PATENT OFFICE RALPH J. BUB'I'QN, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN oomamnn sro'rmenr AND amen sraucroma Application filed March 21, 1928. Serial No. 263,359.

My invention relates to an improved combined s tlight and bin e structure.

An ject is to provi e a spotlight for use on an automobile which may be readily secured in place thereon and removed therefrom without marri or defacing in any way the vehicle body. other object is to provide a combined spotlight su port and hinge structure for an automobile ody.

A meritorious feature resides in the combination with one of the outwardly project- -ing door hinges of an automobile body having a pair of cooperating hinge leaves, one carrie I by the door and the other carried by the stationary part of the body of a spotlight bracket having a pintle receivable'within the hinge bearings of: the leaves to serve as the pivot therefor and engageable with the stationary hinge leaf so that the bracket is supported thereb Pre erably the construction is such that the bracket may be supported at adjusted angular positions with respect to the angular hinge leaf which carries the same and the pintle portion of the bracket which serves as the hinge pin may be provided with means at opposite ends to engage the stationary hinge leaf to accomplish this result.

Other objects, advantages and meritorious features of my invention will more fully appear from the following specification, appended claims and accompanying drawing, wherein- Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a vehicle body provided with my improvement.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of one embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevation of a second embodiment of my invention. I

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the same line as Fig. 3 of another modified form of my invention.

In different types of vehicle bodies the door hinges are located at the front edge of the door and it is customary to rovide one of these hinges substantially mldway between the top and bottom of the door and at approximately the window rail level. It is my purpose to utilize this hinge structure so located to cooperate withmy improved spotlight bracket to serve as a point of attachment thereof to the car body.

-'In the drawing this hinge is shown in a conventional form comprising hinge leaves 10 and 12 secured to the stationary door jamb 14 and the door pillar 16 respectively. These hinge leaves are provided with aligned hinge pin bearings which normally receive a hinge pm.

I provide a spotlightbracket 18 to the outer free end of which a spotlight may be pivoted in a suitable manner to have a permitted angular movement. In Figs. 1, 2 and 3, this outer end is shown as provided with a horizontal bearing which receives a suitably disposed pin carried by a spotlight casing 22,permitting angular movement of the spotlight vertically. The horizontal swinging movement is provided for in the attachment of the spotlight bracket to the hinge.

In Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive the spotlight bracket is shown as provided with a pair of arms 24 adapted to straddle the hinge engaging the upper and lower edges thereof. These arms are slightly flexible so that a pintle member 26 may be extended therethrough as shown in the figures of the drawing and through the employment of a securing nut 28 may be used to draw these arms closely against the upper and lower edges of the stationary hinge leaf to support the bracket at determined adjusted angular positions with respect thereto.

A modification of my invention is illustrated in Fig. 4 wherein the spotlight bracket is provided with an integral pintle member 30 that extends through the pin bearings in the hinge leaves and is provided therebelow with an expansion spring 32 tensioned against the lower edge of the stationary hinge leaf by a nut 34 to secure the bracket at any position to which it may be moved angularly with respect to the hinge leaf.

Another modified form is illustrated in Fig. 5 Where the bracket is provided with a flange portion or lip 36 which is received between the side of the body pillar or jamb '14 and the curved end portion of the stationary hinge leaf 10 thereby securing the bracket against swinging movement. The structure of this figure is otherwise similar to that heretofore described.

In each construction the pintle portion of the bracket serves as the hinge pin and also serves to support the bracket at the position to which it may be moved with respect to the hinge. When it is not desired to use the light the bracket may be removed and in the case of the structure shown in Fig. 4c the usual hinge pins may be inserted in place or, in the case of the structures shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the bolt member which is employed to secure the bracket to the hinge may be used as a hinge pin if so desired.

IVhat I claim is:

1. In combination with a vehicle door hinge comprising a pair of hinge leaves provided with aligned hinge pin bearings, a spotlight supporting bracket having a pintle portion receivable within the hinge pin bearings of the leaves and means engaging said pintle portion exerting a yielding tension thereon to hold the same relatively stationary with respect to at least one bearing.

2. In combination with a vehicle door hinge comprising a pair of hinge leaves provided with hinge pin bearings, a spotlight bracket having a pintle portion receivable within the hearings of one hinge leaf and detachably engaged therewith to be supported by said hinge leaf at determined adjusted positions.

3. A combined spotlight support and hinge structure for an automobile body door comprising a pair of hinge leaves one of which is carried by the door and the other secured to the body, said hinge leaves provided with hinge pin bearings, and a spotlight bracket having a pintle receivable within said hinge pin bearings and serving as a hinge pin and means cooperating with said pintle at opposite ends and with one of said hinge leaves on opposite edges to position said pintle stationary with respect to said hinge leaf.

4. In combination with a vehicle door hinge having a pair of hinge leaves provided with hinge pin bearings, a spotlight bracket having a pair of arms adapted to straddle the hinge and having in openings adapted to register with the pin openings of the hinge and a pin receivable through the openings of the arms and the openings of the hinge serving as a support for the bracket and a pintle for the hinge.

5. In combination with a vehicle door hinge having a pair of hinge leaves provided with hinge pin bearings, a spotlight bracket having a pair of arms adapted to straddle the hinge and having pin openings adapted to register with the pin openings of the hinge, a pin receivable through the openings of the arms and the openings of the hinge serving as a support for the bracket and a pintle for the hinge, said arms being slightly flexiblc and said pin provided with means adjustable thereon, adapted to draw the arms against opposite edges of one of the hinge leaves to fix the bracket at a determined angular position with respect thereto.

6. In combination with a vehicle door hinge having a pair of hinge leaves provided with hinge pin openings, a spot light bracket having a pintle receivable through said hinge pin openings and extending therebelow, a spring encircling the projecting lower end of the pintle, and a nut threaded 0n the pintle below the spring forcing the same against one of the hinge leaves.

7. In combination with a vehicledoor hinge comprising a pair of hinge leaves provided with hinge pin openings, a spotlight bracket having a pintle receivable through said hinge pin openings and means cooperating with the pintle and one of the hinge leaves to secure the bracket at adjusted angular positions with respect to the hinge leaf.

In testimony whereof, I, RALPH J. BURTON, sign this specification.

RALPH J. BURTON. 

